Belfast: Special school opens first esports classroom in NI

Cedar Lodge’s vice-principal Peter Wilmont said it is the skills developed by the pupils through esports that really count.

“We became very excited about what the opportunities were with esports, both at a competitive level and also at a curricular level,” he said.

Mr Wilmont added he’s been “pleasantly surprised” at how skilled the school pupils have been.

“Their technical knowledge, their ability to problem solve…we have young people who are organising events.

“They understand how to budget, how to advertise, to promote, to market and also to bring people in.”

He said watching the pupils grow with the sport has “been a learning curve” for the staff as well.

“I have to admit, I’m not a gamer.”

The school funded the classroom and equipment through their own budget, but also by seeking help from local businesses.

“Budget and expenditure within a school can be difficult at times,” Mr Wilmont said.

“We’ve invested within our own funding channels, we have spoken to local companies who are working with us on furniture manufacturing, so we have been creative.”